As we had done many times in the past

2006
2005
2004 and 2004 party

2003
2001 birthday and 2001 party
and 2000
(except for 2002 when the camera was broken), we celebrated Ben's birthday. The table was set with plates and chips and the whistles were ready for game time and Suzanne and Jane wondered if we'd pick up the pizza on time before Nate and Joel arrived to salute Ben and then Eddie and Nathaniel and Jeremy added to the gathering in the family room before it was time to assemble by the table and have the pizza which Jane served and the boys ate as Suzanne did the other preparations and Alice Barfield arrived as Suzanne sat in the kitchen while dinner was served in a way that sent Jane to the Blair Witch project as the eating continued

before we headed to the gym to get ready for game time which began with a game of knock out

moving away from the hoop I was able to get a picture of the Straus (or is it Strauss) boys but back at the hoop the game continued until we began the real game and on we played

with this artist picture and then the game went on

until the lights went out and we could only see by the flash

after which order was restored for a little more basketball and then Strauss and Straus and the team photos (Parker Barfield, Nathaniel Wagner, Eddie Percarpio, Joel Strauss, Ben, Nate ASh, Jeremy Sordan and Ben Straus)

Back at home, a birthday brownie awaited as the assembled celebrated but it was all about Ben and after a little more celebration

we opened the presents and Ben was really 12.